GREG LUCA | STAFF WRITER
HIDALGO — Andres Hernandez, Julio Ramos and Ken Hosanna had never played soccer at any level before they got to Hidalgo High. Even then, they were football players first.
But Hidalgo coach Zeke Morales is willing to take a chance on any available athletes as he looks to build a state title contender from an enrollment of 1,018.5, so he gave the three football players a shot.
“If you would’ve asked me if I thought they were going to be starters at any point, I would say, ‘You’re kidding me. They won’t. They can’t even kick the ball,’” Morales said. “But now, they’re starters, and that’s amazing to me. I’m just so happy and so proud of them.”
As Hidalgo enters a regional semifinal matchup with Giddings at 10 a.m. today, none of the three converted football players are consistent starters.
Regardless, their speed, toughness and athleticism have been invaluable as the Pirates reloaded for another playoff run this year after losing 15 seniors from last season’s regional semifinal qualifier.
“We all play with no fear,” Hosanna said. “You get that from football. If you get hurt, you get hurt. It’s basically all out every time.”
Hernandez remembers being a varsity linebacker and running back while taking Morales’ class as a freshman and sophomore. During the second year, he joked with Morales about joining the team, but the coach took him up on the offer.
He made the Hidalgo soccer roster on sheer speed and athleticism, but he still had a lot to learn. His dribbling was limited to kicking the ball out in front of him and sprinting after it.
“I didn’t even know how to touch the ball, but he taught me in practice,” Hernandez said. “It was a long process.”
At first he rarely played, coming off the bench. Then he started to carve out a role as a substitute forward, and late in the season he proved himself a capable defender.
In the area round against King, he recovered a loose ball in the box to net the game-winning goal, and in the regional quarterfinals against Port Isabel, he played almost the entire game on the back end.
“He went from being a forward on Friday, and on Tuesday he goes to being a stopper, and he played a heck of a game for us,” Morales said. “It’s just because of his heart, of his aggressiveness, and his spirit of, ‘I’m not going to give up.’”
Hosanna and Ramos have proven to be similarly versatile assets for Hidalgo. They showed Morales potential because of their speed, strength and hip movement, and they honed their soccer skills through persistence.
Very regularly both players missed the final bus from Hidalgo High to their hometown of Granjeno, opting to stay until the end of practice at 6:30 p.m. rather than getting on board at 6.
“I value them for them,” Morales said. “For their attitude, for their hearts, for their courage, for their commitment, and for their sacrifice, sometimes, too. I’m proud to have those three guys. I wish I had a couple more guys like that.”
Ramos said he doesn’t see himself as a talented player, just one with quick feet and a willingness to play hard. As a result, he and Hernandez have both carved out roles as enforcers for Hidalgo, typically marking the other team’s top scoring threats.
The duo will have their hands full today against Giddings senior Chris Orocio, who has 61 goals on the year, according to Maxpreps.
“He shouldn’t be scoring anything,” Hernandez said. “If he has 60 goals, OK, but if I’m going to be on defense on my team and he wants to score, he better not go home crying that he didn’t score.”